CLEVELAND (AP) — Say this for the never-a-dull-moment Cleveland Browns: They sure know how to pick backup quarterbacks. Their search for a franchise QB continues. Just like last season, when Joe Flacco rescued the Browns and led a playoff run after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, Jameis Winston stepped in and lifted Cleveland to an emotional 29-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
In his first start in two years, Winston threw three touchdown passes and for 334 yards — the most in a debut by any of Cleveland's 39 starting quarterbacks since 1999. The performance has fans wondering why the team stuck with a struggling Watson for so long before he sustained a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon last week. “I'm not really thinking that way,” coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday on a Zoom call when asked about riding with Watson.
“I thought Jameis did a nice job yesterday. I know he feels like he can play better, but I’m not thinking about it that way.” Well, everyone else is.
Stefanski did confirm that Winston will remain Cleveland's starter going forward, as if there was any doubt. Whether hyping teammates with an emotional pregame speech or reciting lyrics to Eminem's “Lose Yourself” during an on-field TV interview afterward, Winston brought light and life to a season that was headed toward a dark place. With Winston, everything looked better than with Watson.
The Browns were in sync. Cleveland's offensive line, which has been .